blackcurrant

noun

Etymology: From black + currant.

1. A shrub, Ribes nigrum, that produces small, very dark purple, edible berries.

   “1993, R. D. Davidson, 19: The vegetation of Lough Neagh wetlands, R.B. Wood, R.V. Smith (editors), Lough Neagh: The Ecology of a Multipurpose Water Resource, Monographae Biologicae: Volume 69, page 487, Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) and guelder rose (Viburnum opulus) are frequent but alder buckthorn (Frangula alnus) a common constituent of East Anglian carr is very rare.”

   “Blackcurrant leaf has a diuretic action [11,12,14], therefore it should not be taken concurrently with diuretics indicated for cardiac or renal insufficiency except on medical advice.”

2. The berry borne by this shrub.

   “Their wines are intense and elegant, tasting of blackcurrants and made to be aged.”

   “Blackcurrant jam is easy, but this year I have left the blackcurrants so long that they are sweet and ripe enough to eat raw: delicious rolled in a crunch of granulated sugar.”